My stated rule is that we don't erase--we restate. And that by leaving
the "mistake" lines in they act as road signs to guide us where we don't
want to go next time since we tend to always go back to the same
"route". Erasers are used for cleaning up, not correcting.

I have never used erasers in my elementary classes. We draw with
Sharpie,
and mistakes are a chance for something exciting and new to happen. We
"practice" 2-3 times and then students choose their "best" one for their

final project to finish. I get frustrated waiting for kids to draw that
"perfect" circle, never getting to step two because they can't complete
step
one. They always have one that they are happy with. My perception is (at
the
elementary level) that students have an off-kilter view of perfection
and
will often get frustrated trying to achieve that idea. So no, I don't
think
you will damage their psyche by taking away their "eraser crutch".
~Michal
K-12 Kansas Art Teacher
http://www.geocities.com/theartkids

> So far - there has been minimal drama, and my kids are starting to
draw
> lightly instead of digging into their paper with their pencils, and
then
> shredding the surface with the easers - but now I fear I may be
damaging
> their delicate collective psyche by not allowing for mistakes....